How To Plant Vintage Glassware

Potting up vintage glassware like retro cups from the 70s, vintage stemware and sherbert dishes in vibrant blues is so special in your kitchen windowsill, on a table in your screened in porch or at your desk in your office.  They brighten up any space...like a hall bathroom.

But, first things first.  You have to gather your supplies.

Cactus Potting Soil

Containers

Plants - succulent varieties

How easy was that?  Simple.simple.simple.

The fun part is going to your favorite antique mall, thrift store or junk shop and selecting your containers.

The second fun stop is going to your favorite nursery to select succulents.  Any variety will do so go wild.  One variety in a container is great, two is even better.

I like to pot up containers at my potting bench outside so that I can be messy and not worry about soil going everywhere as I always manage to fling it here and there.  I don't even know how I do it, but it always happens so I pot outside whenever possible.  

Here are my sweet euchervia and rose moss or portulaca ready to go into these sweet vintage cups.

I adore this pattern on this cup.  I really think I would buy the set of dishes if I found them.  I already own three sets, but I just don't think I could resist them.

Back to potting up the containers.  Chose your favorite container, be sure that it is clean - no junk store debris allowed - if it is dishwasher safe - run it through - that would be best.  Why?  You will be providing a warm, damp container -  the perfect environment for pesky bacteria to grow.  This can wreak havoc for your sweet little plant's roots.  Healthy soil equals a super happy healthy plant.

Remove your plant from it's plastic container by pushing up from the bottom.  Now you have to spread the roots so that your little plant will fit inside your container.  You need to keep as many roots as possible so gently push your finger up into the root ball and spread it apart or in half.

Put a bit of soil in the bottom of the cup, place your little sweetie in the cup next and then add soil around the sides as needed to bring the soil level up on all sides.

Now give your little plant a drink, just 2 tablespoons - I repeat 2 tablespoons only.  Too much water will drown your plant.  Plants need moisture and air to grow at the root level.  Too much water removes any air pockets from the soil and the plant will drown.

If you are potting an euchervia or hen and chick, remove soil from the plant on all sides and bottom so that it will fit in your container.  Use a deeper container for these guys.

Who could resist such a sweet little plant in a vintage glass sherbert dish?

 That's all there is to it.

Except, if your plant will be living inside place it in a sunny window - south or west exposure.  If your little guy is going to the office with you, place under a lamp and it will be happy.  Office lighting will not be sufficient - you need a small lamp.  If you are placing your plant outside - it has to be in a shady area as the container is so small that it will dry out in the sun super quick and will bake in the sun.

So, gather you containers and have some fun.  The containers are just darling at place settings, great gifts for teachers, Mom's love them, Nana's too, they are great for a fund raiser - kid's can do them, too. 

Happy Gardening - Julie

Vintage Poultry Items Are Perfect for Farmhouse Style

romantiskahem

I am smitten with vintage poultry egg baskets and have a nice collection started that I hang from my pot rack in the kitchen.  I also use them to hold fresh fruit, white tapers, pinecones in the Fall, and vintage Christmas ornaments in the Winter.

Glass and More - Etsy

Look at how pretty they are filled with eggs in this German version.

retrorenovation

Retrofitted into a fabulous hanging light.

Good Housekeeping

A floral arrangement is perfect for Spring decorating.

House Beautiful

Fill them with your favorite bowl filler for your kitchen, coffee table or guest bath.

Now let's talk about chick feeders...

Great caddy for your stuff.

Another vintage chick feeder light fixture.

Enjoy the day.

Blessings - Julie

Spring Is In Bloom On the Prairie

A few years ago I purchased a white lilac bush and the second year I had lovely white lilac blossoms.  The third year my white lilac blossoms were lavender and pale pink.  At first I was disappointed, but then the fragrance and pale hues of pink and lavender won me over.  Lilacs are just my favorite heirloom flowering shrubs.  I have a bouquet next to my chair as I write this blog to you tonite.  The fragrance is heavenly.

Lilac are super easy to grow, will tolerate less than perfect soil and require full sun for maximum bloom.  Plant them under a bedroom window for fragrance at night.  The blooms are short lived, but spectacular and worth making room for them in the garden.

Being a farmgirl I adore vintage chick feeders and the one in this photo is my favorite.  It is a small feeder only 8 inches in length, but isn't it sweet?  I keep it on a shelf in my kitchen and tuck special cards, candy, and photos in it throughout the year.  Today, the little feeder is holding a French enamel house sign.

The chicks in the photo are made of concrete that I picked up on one of my junking jaunts and they sit on the shelf with the chick feeder in the kitchen.

The feeder and the chicks remain on the shelf year around but everything else changes around them as the seasons pass.

A chair at the farm with the sweetest embroidered garden pillow featuring a wheelbarrow filled with flowers.  I think the umbrella is a sweet touch.  I was amazed when I walked into the shop picked up the pillow and the owner told me that the pillow was $5.00 if I wanted it.  Sold.  I guess it was just my lucky day.

The blue tones in the pillow match perfectly with my chair that I sit in to enjoy my morning coffee when I am at the farm.  Simple pleasures...

My apple tree is in bloom and the fragrance, well smells like apples.  Dan pruned a few of the taller branches for me that I couldn't reach when I was pruning the trees earlier this year and I brought them into the house for a bouquet for the coffee table.  They look so perfect in a vintage white enamelware bucket.

Who can resist vintage calico aprons hanging on a rooster hook in the kitchen?  I think they brighten the kitchen and add alot of charm.  The best part is that they are so fun to wear when baking cookies with the kids.

I have planted my Zinnia beds again, weeded my flower beds...again, pruned my fruit trees, purchased my seeds for the vegetable garden, added three truck loads of compost to the veggie garden, and have already started dreaming about all the lovely blossoms to come in the months ahead.  Dan is dreaming of juicy red tomatoes.

How does your garden grow?  Are you a flower gardener, veggie gardener, tree and shrub enthusiast or do you just enjoy your neighbors blossoms and produce?

Blessings my Friends - Julie

Prairie Thistle at the Bottom's Up Antique Market

A quick share of my booth this month at the Bottom's Up Antique Market that opens tomorrow.  I have filled my space with loads of wonderful things for garden, home and body.

There are so many things I love in this space like the Breakfast at Tiffanys style dress and hat on the mannequin, the black walnut cross on top of the cabinet on the left, and the hanging lamp made from a vintage galvanized metal funnel.

I designed this French inspired shelf that I so admire in Jeanne de Arc Living Magazine with loads of hooks and cubbies to display your favorite collections.  My talented husband, Dan made these beauties for me.  I can't wait to hang mine at the farm!  For my out of town friends, let me know if you are interested and I can check on shipping options.

One of the favorite things I made for the show is this "Sisters" piece that is a printed dictionary page soldered between two panes of glass with vintage brass corners - they are gorgeous.

A painting that I did of the shadow of an angel above vintage sheet music bits with deep blue space below.  I added "The Angels Sing" in french below.  I painted the angel and the letters in a silver metallic paint that appears and disappears depending on the angle. 

 The Queen of Sheba mixed media shadow box in a vintage sucrets tin.

A vintage Little Red Riding Hood doll and book.

A barnwood cross  that features "With the Help of God " written in French is one of my favorites.

Two large vintage blue fruit jars made into sweet lamps.

Just a glimpse into my booth...hope you enjoyed it.

Blessings my friends - Julie

Bottoms Up Debut - Kansas City

I thought I would share some photos of my new Prairie Thistle space at Bottoms Up in the West Bottoms of Kansas City.  I only had two weeks to prepare for the show so I quickly put together a booth design for the show.  This venue is open the first Friday and Saturday of each month.   I had such a lovely time at the show I have decided to join in again in April.  I hope you can join me there, if you have never been to Bottoms Up you are in for a delightful shopping experience.

I will have a bit more time to prepare for the next show and plan to bring in more jewelry, antiques and French inspired goods for the home and garden.

One of the necklaces that I put together for the show featuring a large vintage shell button with a tiny sparrow wired to blueberry lace quartz.

I adore my sparrow cabinet that I had custom made to display my jewelry.  It is four feet wide and five feet in height and features a hard rock maple top.  It holds an enormous amount of jewelry, but would also be perfect for linens and lingerie.  My Master Cabinet maker has agreed to make more of these cabinets by order.  Send me an email if you are interested and would like more information.

It was a fun show with a lively crowd enjoying the lovely offerings of the antique vendors.

This was the first mannequin that I purchased long ago.  It is actually a boy mannequin torso that I always try to disguise with lots of lace strategically placed creating a more feminine shape.

I also brought lots of antiques for the glass case in my space.  This is a lovely Italian figurine of a family of Blue Jays.

Hand carved wooden statues of Jesus are exquisitely detailed.

A vintage beveled glass silver Victorian hand mirror and a white beaded purse with a tiny mirror in the clasp.

Purchase Here

A pair of white leather Mary Jane shoes - too sweet.

Our leading lady of Bottoms Up, Gwen McClure.  She's a lovely person and you can hear her laughter all day as she greets her returning loyal customers.

This is a photo of Gwen's lovely French inspired offerings.



Another booth filled with wonderful European antiques.  The two consoles in the front have silver leaf tops.

There are no words....

What a wonderful weekend and I am so excited about the show next month and I hope you can join me.

Bottoms Up

1200 West 12th Street

Kansas City, MO  64101

Related Articles and Links

Jenny Steffens Blogspot

West Bottoms Business District

Bottoms Up Facebook Page

French By Design Facebook Page

Beth Leintz Blog

Farm Goings On and Such

My sweet boy Angus, photographed by my sweet friend, Stacey on a recent trip to the farm.  She just grabbed my camera and snapped a few quick shots and seemingly with no effort came up with this photo of my best boy - Angus.  He's getting older and I know that this will be one of my eternally favorite photos of Angus that I will always love.  As you know, Angus was a rescue puppy and I have had him with me for the past 10 years.  I've loved every minute of it.

Ha.  This one cracks me up.  Another Stacey shot of Molly checking out a blueberry.

My son Ryan, with "Meaty" as he calls Molly.  She is a chunk and we love her anyway.  Poor Molly is currently on a doggie diet of only dog food and veggies.  We also have to limit her to her daily rations as she is a grazer like her Mom and will munch all day long if allowed.

Occassionally, a lone rider will pass by the farm in this instance one of our Amish neighbors.  See the horse's ears standing straight up?  That's because Angus was sounding the alarm by barking way too loudly.  He just wouldn't stop until the horse and rider had passed the barn.  My neighbor seemed to find this very amusing as Angus is only about a foot tall including his really big ears.  What he lacks in size he more than compensates with his loud doggie voice.  Wow, is that dog loud.

Sweet Dan is putting on the last coat of pain in my future studio space at the farm today.  I am so excited about my future studio space.  I currently work in my finished basement in the city, so I am super excited about all of those windows and bright white walls.  The next step is installing the hardwood floors.

Lots and lots of windows.  I will be able to view my flower garden from these three windows while I work.  Bliss.

I purchased a chandelier for the studio today at one of my favorite antiquing venues.  I love.love.love it!

I cleaned all of the crystals today and Sweet Dan is going to hang for me tomorrow.

This is the light that I found for the space above my kitchen table.  It has the prettiest milky white glass.

Another vintage fixture for the guest bath ceiling.  It was originally a tarnished brass, but with a fresh coat of glossy white paint it becomes perfect.

Some of my other favorite finds for the farm...

Lovely vintage cannister set.

Tiny procelain espresso set from Czechoslavakia.

Vintage aprons hanging from a French Rooster hook on my pantry door.

Green bakelite dominoes in an ironstone bowl.

And one sweet little cast iron bull dog.

I never get tired of designing my perfect sanctuary in the country.  Isn't it fun finding something special to add to your home that just makes you happy whenever you look at them? 

It's sunset and once again the sky is ablaze in hues of vibrant pink that looks so beautiful floating above the blue tones of the snow on the ground...what can I say, I am a country girl through and through. and it's here that I feel most like me.

Blessings - Julie